Apparatus and Method for Increasing Safety when Using Battery Systems

ABSTRACT

A battery system includes at least one apparatus configured to increase safety when using at least one component of the battery system. The at least one apparatus is configured to degas the at least one component. The at least one component has a degassing opening. The at least one apparatus is configured to be attached to the at least one component by joining, and the at least one apparatus is configured to cover the degassing opening.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a battery system and also its use and amethod in accordance with the preamble of the independent claims.

PRIOR ART

Battery systems are known from the prior art, wherein the batterysystems comprise a degassing apparatus, wherein the degassing apparatusis suitable for dissipating substances that occur in the batterysystems. A battery having a protection from neighboring cells in thecase of discharging substances from a battery cell is thus disclosed inDE 1020110039976A1, wherein each battery cell comprises a dischargingvalve that is suitable for discharging gas that has been released insaid battery cell.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The invention is based on a battery system, in particular a lithium ionbattery system having at least one apparatus for increasing safety whenusing at least one component of the battery system, wherein the at leastone apparatus is suitable for degassing the at least one component andthe at least one component comprises a degassing aperture.

The invention relates to a battery system, the use of the battery systemand a method having the characterizing features of the independentclaims.

The core of the invention resides in the fact that the at least oneapparatus has been attached to the at least one component by means of anattaching procedure and covers the degassing aperture.

The fact that the at least one apparatus has been attached to the atleast one component by means of an attaching procedure and covers thedegassing aperture leads to the advantage in accordance with theinvention of ensuring in a low-cost and reliable manner the increase insafety when using at least one component of the battery system.

The background of the invention is the simplification of the productionof an apparatus for increasing safety when using a battery system.

The invention also relates to the use of a battery system in a vehicle,in particular in a motor vehicle.

In addition, the invention relates to a method for increasing safetywhen using at least one component of a battery system, in particular alithium ion battery system, wherein the at least one component comprisesa degassing apparatus, wherein the at least one apparatus is attached tothe at least one component and covers the degassing aperture.

Further advantageous embodiments of the present invention are thesubject matter of the dependent claims.

According to a first advantageous embodiment of the invention, the atleast one apparatus comprises a bursting foil, by way of example a metalfoil, in particular an aluminum foil, or the at least one apparatuscomprises a bursting foil, by way of example a metal foil, in particularan aluminum foil, and an attaching foil, in particular a sealing foil,preferably a polypropylene foil or a so-called PPa-F-Foil® from DNP.

The fact that the at least one apparatus comprises a bursting foil, byway of example a metal foil, in particular an aluminum foil, leads tothe advantage in accordance with the invention that by virtue of itsmechanical characteristics it is possible to adjust the at least oneapparatus to suit the technical and/or physical characteristics of thebattery system and the at least one component.

The fact that the at least one apparatus comprises a bursting foil, byway of example a metal foil, in particular an aluminum foil, and anattaching foil, in particular a sealing foil, preferably a polypropylenefoil or a so-called PPa-F-foil® from DNP leads to the advantage inaccordance with the invention that by virtue of its mechanicalcharacteristics the at least one apparatus can be adjusted to suit thetechnical and/or physical characteristics of the battery system and theat least one component, said characteristics being preferably a pressureand/or a temperature that prevails in an interior of the battery system.

Furthermore, the attaching procedure when using the attaching foil canbe performed with little expenditure. In addition, by means of the factthat the at least one apparatus comprises a bursting foil, by way ofexample a metal foil, in particular an aluminum foil, and an attachingfoil, in particular a sealing foil, preferably a polypropylene or aso-called PPa-F-Foil® from DNP it is possible in an advantageous mannerin accordance with the invention to adjust the at least one apparatus tosuit the respective battery system: In dependence upon the physicalcircumstances that prevail in the interior of the battery system, by wayof example pressure and/or temperature, it is possible to select andinfluence the physical, chemical and technical quality of the at leastone apparatus. In addition, the at least one apparatus can be designedby way of example in dependence upon the chemical qualities ofsubstances that are located in the interior of the battery and canpreferably be embodied as chemically resistant with respect to inparticular these substances and/or as flame retardant. Furthermore, thisat least one apparatus offers the advantage that in dependence upon thephysical characteristics of the bursting foil and attaching foil, arupture or break up of the at least one apparatus can be determined withregard to the duration of the rupture or the duration of the break orthe magnitude of the rupture or the magnitude of the break.

In accordance with a next advantageous embodiment of the invention, thethickness of the bursting foil is 25 μm to 150 μm and/or the thicknessof the attaching foil is 25 μm to 150 μm.

The fact that the thickness of the bursting foil and/or the thickness ofthe attaching foil is 25 μm to 150 μm leads to the advantage inaccordance with the invention that the at least one apparatus can bedesigned according to the physical and chemical characteristics of thebattery system, preferably a pressure and/or a temperature that prevailsin the interior of the battery system.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, thedegassing aperture is a bursting aperture, in particular a burstingtongue.

In accordance with a further advantageous embodiment of the invention,the attaching procedure is an adhesive, a laminating or a gluingprocedure.

By virtue of the fact that the attaching procedure is an adhesive, alaminating or a gluing procedure, it is possible to perform theattaching procedure in a controlled and reliable and simple manner.

According to a next preferred embodiment of the invention, prior toattaching the at least one apparatus to the at least one component, atleast one surface of the at least one component is roughened or at leastone surface of the at least one component is cleared of oils and/or fatsand in a subsequent step, the at least one surface is roughened.

The step of clearing the at least one surface of oils and/or fats leadsto the advantage in accordance with the invention of an increaseddurability of the attachment. The background is the avoidance of oilsand fats that have the effect of reducing the adhesion.

The step of roughening the at least one surface leads likewise to theadvantage in accordance with the invention of increasing the durabilityof the attachment.

In accordance with a further, advantageous embodiment of the invention,the at least one surface is mechanically or chemically roughened, inparticular using the effects of an acid or an alkaline solution.

According to a next advantageous embodiment of the invention, the atleast one surface is heated to a temperature of 160° C. to 210° C. priorto attaching the at least one apparatus.

The step of heating the at least one surface to a temperature of 160° C.to 210° C. prior to attaching the at least one apparatus leads to theadvantage in accordance with the invention of being able to perform theattaching procedure in a rapid and reliable manner.

In accordance with a further advantageous embodiment of the invention,initially an attaching foil and then a bursting foil or a composite ofthe attaching foil and the bursting foil is attached to the at least onesurface of the at least one component, wherein the attaching foil andthe bursting foil or the composite of the attaching foil and burstingfoil cover the degassing aperture of the at least one component.

The approach of initially attaching the attaching foil and in asubsequent step attaching the bursting foil to the at least one surfaceleads to the advantage in accordance with the invention of being able toperform the attaching procedure in a controlled manner. In particular,where necessary, defective attaching foils or bursting foils can bebetter identified and replaced in the case of attaching said foilsseparately one after the other.

The approach of attaching a composite of the attaching foil and thebursting foil to the at least one surface leads to the advantage inaccordance with the invention of accelerating the attaching procedure bymeans of the common attachment procedure of the attaching foil and thebursting foil in one step.

In accordance with a further advantageous embodiment of the invention,the attaching foil and the bursting foil or the composite of theattaching foil and the bursting foil is pressed by means of a pressingapparatus, in particular a pressing apparatus that comprises atemperature of 160° C. to 210° C., onto the surface of the at least onecomponent. The fact that the pressing apparatus comprises a temperatureof 160° C. to 210° C. leads to the advantage of not influencing theattaching procedure in a negative manner.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the atleast one component is cooled to a temperature of 20° C. to 40° C. afterthe attaching procedure.

The step of cooling of the at least one component to the temperature of20° C. to 40° C. after the attaching procedure leads to the advantage inaccordance with the invention of being able to conclude the attachingprocedure in a reliable manner and as much as possible ruling outundesired mechanical deformation of the at least one apparatus, inparticular any deformation that is possible at high temperatures.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention is explained hereinunder with reference to exemplaryembodiments in which further inventive features are evident that are notlimiting to the invention in its scope. The exemplary embodiments areillustrated in the figures.

In the figures:

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic plan view of a battery system inaccordance with a first embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic sectional view of the battery system inaccordance with the invention and at least one apparatus for degassingat least one component of a battery system and for increasing safetywhen using the at least one component of the battery system prior tosaid at least one apparatus being attached to at least one component ofthe battery system,

FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic plan view of the battery system inaccordance with the first embodiment, wherein at least one apparatus forincreasing safety when using at least one component of a battery systemhas been attached to at least one component by means of an attachingprocedure and covers a degassing aperture,

FIG. 4 illustrates schematically the method in accordance with theinvention for increasing safety when using at least one component of abattery system, in particular a lithium ion battery system,

FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic plan view of a battery system inaccordance with a second embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic plan view of a battery system inaccordance with the second embodiment, wherein at least one apparatusfor degassing at least one component of a battery system and forincreasing safety when using the at least one component of the batterysystem has been attached to at least one component by means of anattaching procedure and covers a degassing aperture.

FIG. 1 illustrates schematically a battery system in accordance with afirst embodiment. The battery system is referred to as B. KP refers toat least one component of the battery system B. The at least onecomponent KP of the battery system B comprises a degassing aperture thatis referred to as BO. The degassing aperture BO is suitable wherenecessary for dissipating substances that occur within the at least onecomponent KP, in particular gases. The at least one component KP of thebattery system B can be in particular a battery apparatus, a batterymodule or a battery cell. O refers to a surface of the at least onecomponent KP.

K refers to a cathode, A refers to an anode of the at least onecomponent KP. The surface O of the at least one component KP can be inparticular spatially delimited, preferably by means of an end stop thatis referred to as EA in terms of delimiting the run-off or blocking therun-away, wherein the spatial boundary is suitable for preventingattaching substances flowing away. Attaching substances can be by way ofexample means that are suitable for attaching at least one apparatus tothe at least one component KP.

FIG. 2 illustrates schematically the surface O of at least one componentKP of the battery system B. V refers to at least one apparatus forincreasing safety when using the at least one component KP of thebattery system B. BF refers to a bursting foil that is suitable forbursting under the effect of pressure, this effect of pressure can be asa result of pressure of by way of example 2 bar to 12 bar. FF refers toan attaching foil that is suitable for attaching to the surface O of theat least one component KP. The bursting foil BF and the attaching foilFF are components of the at least one apparatus V. In the schematicallyillustrated state of the battery system B that is illustrated in FIG. 2,the at least one apparatus V has not yet been attached to the at leastone component KP by means of an attaching procedure and does not yetcover the degassing aperture that is not yet visible in FIG. 2. The atleast one component KP can be in particular spatially delimited,preferably by means of an end stop EA in terms of delimiting the run-offor blocking the run-away, wherein the spatial boundary is suitable forpreventing attaching substances flowing away. Attaching substances aremeans that are suitable for attaching the at least one apparatus V tothe at least one component KP.

FIG. 3 illustrates schematically the battery system in accordance withthe first embodiment, wherein the at least one apparatus that isreferred to as V has been attached to at least one component that isreferred to as KP by means of an attaching procedure. The battery systemin accordance with the invention is referred to as B. The at least oneapparatus V is suitable for degassing the at least one component KP. Krefers to a cathode, A refers to an anode of the at least one componentKP. O refers to a surface of the at least one component KP. In the stateof the battery system B that is illustrated schematically in FIG. 3, theat least one apparatus V has been attached to the at least one componentKP by means of an attaching procedure and covers the degassing apertureBO that is not visible in FIG. 3.

The at least one component KP can be in particular spatially delimited,preferably by means of an end stop EA in terms of limiting run-off orblocking run-away, wherein the spatial boundary is suitable forpreventing attaching substances flowing away. Attaching substances areby way of example means that are suitable for attaching the at least oneapparatus V to the at least one component KP.

FIG. 4 illustrates schematically a method for increasing safety whenusing at least one component of a battery system, in particular alithium ion battery system. The at least one component of the batterysystem can be a battery apparatus, a battery module and/or a batterycell. The method is started with method introduction step 11. Wherenecessary, in the removal step 22 at least one surface of at least onecomponent is cleared of oils and/or fats. In a subsequent rougheningstep 33, the at least one surface of the at least one component isroughened, the roughening step can be performed in a mechanical manneror in a chemical manner, in particular using the effects of an acid oran alkaline solution. In a subsequent heating step 44, the at least onesurface is heated to a temperature of by way of example 160° C. to 210°C. In the subsequent attaching step 55, either a composite of anattaching foil and a bursting foil or initially an attaching foil andsubsequently a bursting foil are attached to the at least one component.The attaching foil and bursting foil or the composite of the attachingfoil and bursting foil cover/covers a degassing aperture of the at leastone component. The procedure of attaching the attaching foil and thebursting foil and the composite of the attaching foil and the burstingfoil can be performed in particular under the effect of pressure by wayof example under a pressure of 0.5 bar to 10 bar. The at least onecomponent is cooled in a subsequent cooling step 66. The temperature towhich the at least one component is cooled is by way of example 20° C.to 40° C. The method is terminated with method terminating step 77.

FIG. 5 illustrates schematically a battery system in accordance with asecond embodiment. B refers to the battery system. KP refers to at leastone component of the battery system B. The at least one component KP ofthe battery system B comprises a degassing aperture that is referred toas BO. The degassing aperture BO is suitable where necessary fordissipating substances that occur within the at least one component KP,in particular gases.

The at least one component KP of the battery system B can be inparticular a battery apparatus, a battery module or a battery cell. Orefers to a surface of the at least one component KP.

KO refers to a first aperture in the surface of the at least onecomponent KP, in particular a first aperture in the surface of the atleast one component KP, said aperture being suitable for inserting acathode (not illustrated) of the battery system B.

AO refers to a second aperture in the surface of the at least onecomponent KP, in particular a second aperture in the surface of the atleast one component KP, said aperture being suitable for inserting ananode (not illustrated) of the battery system B.

EO refers to a third aperture in the surface of the at least onecomponent KP, in particular a third aperture in the surface of the atleast one component KP, said aperture being suitable for filling ordischarging a substance into or out the battery system B. The substancecan be in particular an electrolyte.

The at least one component KP can be in particular spatially delimited,preferably by means of an end stop EA in terms of delimiting the run-offor blocking the run-away, wherein the spatial boundary is suitable forpreventing the attaching substances flowing away. The attachingsubstances by way of example are means that are suitable for attachingat least one apparatus to the at least one component KP.

FIG. 6 illustrates schematically a battery system in accordance with theinvention in accordance with a third embodiment. B refers to the batterysystem in accordance with the invention, V refers to an apparatus forincreasing safety. KP refers to at least one component of the batterysystem B. O refers to a surface of the at least one component KP. KOrefers to a first aperture in the surface of the at least one componentKP, in particular a first aperture in the surface of the at least onecomponent KP, said aperture being suitable for inserting a cathode (notillustrated) of the battery system B.

AO refers to a second aperture in the surface of the at least onecomponent KP, in particular a second aperture in the surface of the atleast one component KP, said aperture being suitable for inserting ananode (not illustrated) of the battery system B.

EO refers to a third aperture in the surface of the at least onecomponent KP, in particular a third aperture in the surface of the atleast one component KP, said aperture being suitable for filling ordischarging a substance into or out the battery system B. The substancecan be in particular an electrolyte.

In the state of the battery system B that is illustrated in FIG. 6, theat least one apparatus V has been attached to the at least one componentKP by means of an attaching procedure and covers the degassing aperturethat is not visible in FIG. 6.

The at least one component KP can be in particular spatially delimited,preferably by means of an end stop EA in terms of limiting run-off orblocking run-away, wherein the spatial boundary is suitable forpreventing attaching substances flowing away. The attaching substancesare by way of example means that are suitable for attaching the at leastone apparatus V to the at least one component KP.

1. A battery system comprising: at least one component including adegassing aperture; and at least one apparatus configured to increasesafety when using the at least one component of the battery system,wherein: the at least one apparatus is configured to degas the at leastone component, the at least one apparatus is configured to be attachedto the at least one component by an attaching procedure, and the atleast one apparatus is configured to cover the degassing aperture. 2.The battery system as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the at least oneapparatus comprises a bursting foil.
 3. The battery system as claimed inclaim 14, wherein at least one of a thickness of the bursting foil and athickness of the attaching foil is between 25 μm and 150 μm.
 4. Thebattery system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the degassing aperture isa bursting aperture.
 5. The use of a battery system as claimed in claim1, wherein the battery system is configured to be used in a vehicle. 6.A method for increasing safety when using at least one component of abattery system, the at least one component including a degassingaperture, the method comprising: attaching at least one apparatus of thebattery system to the at least one component; and covering the degassingaperture with the at least one apparatus.
 7. The method as claimed inclaim 6, wherein attaching the at least one apparatus to the at leastone component includes performing one of an adhesive procedure, alaminating procedure, and a gluing procedure.
 8. The method as claimedin claim 6, further comprising: prior to attaching the at least oneapparatus to the at least one component, roughening at least one surfaceof the at least one component.
 9. The method as claimed in claim 8,wherein roughening the at least one surface includes one of mechanicallyroughening and chemically roughening the at least one surface.
 10. Themethod as claimed in claim 6, further comprising: heating the at leastone surface to a temperature of between 160° C. and 210° C. prior toattaching the at least one apparatus to the at least one component. 11.The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein: attaching the at least oneapparatus to the at least one component includes attaching an attachingfoil and a bursting foil to the at least one surface by one of: (i)initially attaching the attaching foil and then attaching the burstingfoil; and (ii) attaching a composite of the attaching foil and thebursting foil, and covering the degassing aperture with the at least oneapparatus includes covering the degassing aperture with the attachingfoil and the bursting foil or the composite of the attaching foil andthe bursting foil.
 12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein:attaching the attaching foil and the bursting foil or the composite ofthe attaching foil and the bursting foil includes pressing the attachingfoil and the bursting foil or the composite of the attaching foil andthe bursting foil onto the at least one surface of the at least onecomponent with a pressing apparatus.
 13. The method as claimed in claim6, further comprising cooling the at least one component to atemperature of between 20° C. and 40° C. after attaching the at leastone apparatus to the at least one component.
 14. The battery system asclaimed in claim 2, wherein the bursting foil is a metal foil.
 15. Thebattery system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the bursting foil is analuminum foil.
 16. The battery system as claimed in claim 2, wherein theat least one apparatus comprises an attaching foil.
 17. The batterysystem as claimed in claim 16, wherein the attachment foil is apolypropylene foil.
 18. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the atleast one surface of the at least one component is cleared of at leastone of oils and fats before the at least one surface is roughened. 19.The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein roughening the at least onesurface includes chemically roughening the at least one surface usingone of an acid and an alkaline solution.
 20. The method as claimed inclaim 12, wherein the pressing apparatus comprises a temperature ofbetween 160° C. and 210° C.